Advice for Painting a SQUASH COURT
ADVICE FOR PAINTING A SQUASH COURT.
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Introduction
This information is designed to provide guidance with the painting of new, old or refurbishment of squash court playing surfaces where evenness, consistency, hardness and durability are a requirement. For further advice, please call 01202 295570.
Good preparation will help to ensure the provision of a durable and long-lasting surface that will stand up to the regular pounding of the court walls by the squash ball at significant velocities.
General
An extremely tough and smooth plaster finish should be obtained to guarantee a long-term durable playing surface. The side walls, unless completely smooth, will create friction with the ball and the front wall, unless properly constructed, will quickly crack and crumble. Expert advice on painting these specialist plasters should always be sought as the filling of cracked or uneven new and old walls is rarely effective in the long term. However, proprietary fillers, preferably of the two-pack type, can be used for temporary repairs.
More contemporary construction materials such as Armourcoat and Rebound should not be painted and we recommend that the original installation company be contacted for maintenance advice specific to these materials.
Before painting new or repaired wall surfaces it is important to ensure that the plaster has been allowed to dry out fully as the application of a water-based paint system on a surface which contains moisture is liable to bubble blister with the resultant flaking of the paint film. Surfaces to be painted should be thoroughly prepared and allowed to fully dry.
England Squash advises that court floors should be unsealed to lessen the risk of slipperiness. Where floor treatment is required, this should be performed by a flooring contractor who has proven experience in treating squash court floors.
Choice of Finishing Paint
Technical Paint Services WBP1030 Primer and WB147 Squash Court Paint are specially formulated acrylics which offer maximum durability without affecting ball bounce or pace. It is imperative that all new plastered wall surfaces must be completely dry before painting commences, usually seven days at normal temperatures. However, if a newly cement-rendered surface is present, please contact our Technical Team for advice.
1) PAINTING OF NEWLY PLASTERED & RE-PLASTERED COURTS:
Surface preparation
Ensure surfaces are clean and dry. Lightly sand all wall surfaces to remove imperfections, nibs, cement splashes etc. Vacuum all surfaces to remove dust. Special attention should be given to corners and floor edges, followed by wiping of all walls with a lightly dampened, clean cloth. All surface preparation and sweeping of the entire court to remove remaining debris and dust, should be performed before painting commences to avoid potential contamination of the wet paint.
Specifications - Playing Surface
1st Coat:
Apply (to dry wall) one coat of Technical Paint Services WBP1030 Primer Light Grey. Ease with a little fresh water for rolling or brushing and to obtain good penetration. Allow 6 - 8 hours before recoating.
2nd Coat:
Apply one coat of Technical Paint Services WB147 Squash Court Paint, ensuring an even coat is applied. If applying by airless spray, the paint can be thinned with fresh, clean water, but by no more than 10%. Allow to dry for 4 - 6 hours @ 20C.
3rd Coat:
As for the second coat, making certain an even finish to all surfaces is achieved.
“Red line” on walls and wooden floors
For marking court walls, apply two coats of Technical Paint Services WB147 Squash Court Paint, colour RAL3020, allowing a minimum of 4 - 6 hours between coats.
For marking timber court floors, use Technical Paint Services SCFLM147 Squash Court Line Marking Floor Paint.
Recommencement of Play
Due to the nature of the game, newly painted surfaces should be allowed to harden for seven days before commencing play.
2) REDECORATION OF EXISTING SQUASH COURTS:
All loose and flaking paint on plastered surfaces must be completely removed. The surface below should be abraded to a firm base down to the original plaster where necessary. Sound surfaces should be washed with a detergent solution to remove dirt, grease deposits and ball marks – (complete removal of ball marks from the side walls may not be achieved). Rinse down walls with clean water and allow to dry thoroughly.
If the walls have been previously painted, care must be taken to ensure that the surface is thoroughly abraded to assist adhesion. All wall surfaces which have been repaired or re-plastered must be allowed to dry out thoroughly. Where the previous paint has been removed, uneven edges should be “feathered off”. Ensure that the entire court is swept clean immediately prior to painting to avoid contamination of wet paint.
Specifications - Playing Surface and side walls
1st Coat:
Apply one coat of Technical Paint Services WBP1030 Surface Primer to isolate all old coatings. Allow to fully dry for 6 - 8 hours.
2nd Coat:
Apply one coat of Technical Paint Services WB147 Squash Court Paint ensuring an even coat is applied. If applying by airless spray, the paint can be thinned with fresh, clean water, but by no more than 10%. Allow to dry for 4 - 6 hours @ 20C.
3rd Coat:
As for the second coat, making certain an even finish to all surfaces is achieved.
“Red line” on walls and wooden floor
For marking court walls, apply two coats of Technical Paint Services WB147 Squash Court Paint, colour RAL3020, allowing a minimum of 4 - 6 hours between coats.
For marking timber court floors use Technical Paint Services SCFLM147 Squash Court Line Marking Floor Paint.
Recommencement of Play
Due to the nature of the game, newly painted surfaces should be allowed to harden for seven days before commencing play.
You can down load this information as a pdf HERE.
Please Note:
England Squash is always available to assist with and advise on all aspects of squash court maintenance and repair. www.englandsquash.com
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